Over a 10-day span, France witnessed multiple criminal incidents attributed to the notorious “DZ Mafia,” a Franco-Algerian organized crime syndicate driving a deadly drug war across the Mediterranean port city of Marseille and beyond.
In mid-July, Christophe Rivenq, the mayor of Alès—a town less than 200 kilometers from Marseille—was evacuated from his home after receiving threats allegedly sent by the group. Rivenq found an envelope containing two 9mm bullets in his mailbox, along with graffiti reading “DZ Mafia NG” —with “NG” standing for "New Generation"—scrawled on his garden fence, pointing to the involvement of a different criminal group.
He was subsequently placed under police protection. Speaking to the media at the time, Rivenq said he had never received such threats before, adding that the intimidation might be due to local anti-trafficking efforts yielding results.
The situation escalated on July 20, when police evacuated the mayor from his home over suspicions of a car bomb planted outside his residence.
France’s Interior Minister commented on the mayor's ordeal, describing it as a “plot to carry out a violent attack” against an official, and confirmed the investigation had been transferred to the National Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (PNACO).
PNACO confirmed to OCCRP that an investigation into the incident had been opened in conjunction with the prosecutor’s office of the Marseille Specialized Interregional Jurisdiction. The investigation centers on charges of making threats, using violence, or committing acts of intimidation against an elected official to influence their duties, making death threats or threatening property damage against an elected official, and participating in a criminal conspiracy aggravated by its commission as part of an organized gang.
Over the past year, the Marseille-based syndicate has expanded into Alès to displace local drug networks, a territorial push that turned fatal in June 2026 when an 18-year-old man was shot dead in a local neighborhood plagued by trafficking.
The tension was heightened further overnight July 23-24, just days after the mayor’s evacuation, when an influencer's car was set on fire outside her Marseille home. A note demanding a payment of 600,000 euros($683,220), signed by the “DZ Mafia,” was reportedly found near the residence of a local influencer.
The Marseille public prosecutor’s office subsequently confirmed to OCCRP that it has opened a separate investigation into the arson. The case concerns charges of destruction by dangerous means committed by an organized group, attempted extortion by an organized group, and conspiracy to commit a crime as part of an organized group.
In a recent turn of events, individuals claiming to represent the DZ Mafia released a video message addressing the incident. The video features three men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, with one individual reading a statement from a mobile phone.
While openly admitting to being drug traffickers, the speaker denied any involvement in the threats against the mayor, saying that their group does not target elected officials and remains focused strictly on business operations. The video did not address the arson attack on the influencer.
“Addressed to the French public, this video is a way for us to make our voices heard,” the statement began. “This concerns a serious case that has once again thrust the name of the ‘DZ Mafia’ into the spotlight.”
Describing the threat against Mayor Rivenq as a "cowardly and heinous act,” the masked speaker condemned the intimidation.
“We are in no way responsible for this criminal act,” the speaker said, calling for severe punishment for those who target law enforcement and politicians
He questioned what the group would stand to gain by threatening a mayor, noting that such acts cause immense harm to their operations. While they accept being treated as traffickers, he added, the syndicate avoids unnecessary conflicts.
“We prioritize the well-being of our business over any political issues, gang wars, or acts of revenge,” he said.
When reached for comment, the Alès town hall’s communications department said the mayor did not wish to comment further.
